Dear Sensei Van_ The part highlighted in red,[here underlined] reminded me of the practice, with you, and think how many things in common with the darkness, the hip, the explosion of power!

Master Ken Nakamatsu

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Being a mathematics instructor and a deep thinking man, Sensei Nakamatsu hasapplied long hours of self study and scholastic pursuit towards developing anunsurpassed approach to the study of Okinawan Karate. Probably the most impressiveand most significant thing that we as karate students can learn from Sensei Nakamatsuis diligent self-study. He says that even now he continues to grow more interested inkarate training, math, and physics.

It is not uncommon to enter Sensei Nakamatsu`sdojo before a night of practice to find him hard at work in a dark training hall. Heexplains that practice in the dark facilitates spiritual training and awareness of theintricate nature of the body`s physiology. It is also common to find Sensei Nakamatsu indetailed conversation with a fellow practitioner concerning complexities of hip motion,retaining focus, or use of the legs in various stances. Significantly, this is often donewith practitioners of other styles because Sensei Nakamatsu believes that, in essencewe are all involved in an intrepid journey towards the same goal.

First and foremost, Sensei Nakamatsu is a diligent student; perhaps this is what makeshim an extraordinary teacher. In the three years I have spent in Okinawa, the practiceat Sensei Nakamatsu`s dojo has not changed in the movements we practice yet it haschanged drastically in the way we think about and execute those movements. Ourpractice has has evolved as we have. Whilst practicing in Nakamatsu`s Dojo I have feltflattered to find Sensei Nakamatsu observing my movements, stepping aside into themirror and observing his own then excitingly saying, “Naruhodo” (I`ve got it).

I quicklyrealized that Sensei Nakamatsu is as likely to do this with a student in his first month oftraining as he is with another Kyudan (Ninth Degree Black Belt). That we can learnfrom one another is a fundamental aspect of his philosophy.

Sensei Nakamatsu believes that the understanding that we gain in karate practice isreadily applicable to our lives as a whole. He often mimics kata done incorrectly toemphasize its lack of focus, power, and rhythm. We do not learn about ourselves in thiskind of practice.

In drastic contrast, he will demonstrate kata done properly in slowmotion; the movements cease to be made with the limbs and his body moves as in onegraceful powerful motion. He explains that each individual must find his own rhythm.This can only be done thru diligent practice and careful thought. Because we arealways changing, it is natural that our form will always be in a constant state of change.

As in life, there is no time for stagnation in karate. Our power can only be trulyexpressed when we begin to understand our own rhythm.

Sensei Nakamatsu has a long list of accomplishments including traveling all overEurope and the United States in the Capacity of a Karate instructor as well as arepresentative of the Japanese Education Ministry. He was born in November 26 in1939 and started his practice of Uechi-ryu Karate-do under the tutelage of Master KaneiUechi at the Futenma Dojo in 1958.

His career in mathematics began in 1964 and heopened his own dojo in Adiniya Kitanakagusuku in 1986, where he teachesapproximately fifteen students.

Sensei Nakamatsu worries that this is too many students for him to teach properly andoften expresses concern over whether he can aptly meet the responsibility of guidingthem in their training. I assure you it is being met. He is a highly respected member ofthe high school education system and the martial arts community in Okinawa.

He is aSenior Ninth Degree Black Belt, a former Director of the all Okinawan Karatetournament sponsored by the Okikukai, and former Director of the MathematicsDepartment at the top academic high school in Okinawa. He has two strong, intelligentsons and a lovely wife.

His oldest son Taichi has an amazing understanding of thefundamental aspects of his fathersʼ training system.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Sensei Nakamatsu for taking the timeand effort to guide us in our karate practice. Let us all make great progress for a longtime to come under his leadership.

After all the thousands pages on this forum arguing the proper way to breathe under torque and compression...it is nice to see my views validated by such a stellar practitioner and teacher of a very powerful mode of striking.

I hope people not familiar with him would just get a sense of his passion for life, his priorities and that his objective is to know himself and to help others know themselves.I've known him since 1970 and over the years our families have developed a deep friendship. I often refer to my "Trifecta" of mentors, Takara, Nakahodo and Nakamatsu with Nakamatsu being more or less my spiritual or inspirational advisor.

I spent some quality time with him in Florida years back when the Okinawan group visiting the states invited me to be part of their demo team in a Florida open tournament.

Thank you for posting this. Since I wasn't 100% sure of what Sensei Nakamatsu was trying to get across...I asked Walter Mattson to comment since Walter has worked with him and they have a very good relationship.

Walter replies

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He's teaching the importance of keeping the support leg strong and stable throughout the kick and especially at impact.

His emphasis is particularly on the hamstring, as when it's soft your power comes back through your own leg. That's when the "kicker" bounces backward off the heavy bag.

He's also commenting that many balance receptors are in the ankle and there is a direct communication between them and the brain.

Completely agree!I remember in the late 70s, at the end of each class, about 10 minutes our Okinawan Sensei here in Argentina, made ​​us do some strengthening exercises, one of them was, standing on one leg balance for a minute, without move the body and posture of Uke, this helped a lot to increase the balance and we doubled the power to boot.

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